The Egg Performing Arts Center Reopens Following Six-Month Restoration in Albany, New York
The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 1 September 2010. Image © Leonard J. DeFrancisci via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Egg is a performing arts centre located in Albany, within New York's Empire State Plaza, designed by the North American firm Harrison & Abramovitz. Construction began in 1966 and was completed twelve years later, in 1978, with the aim of hosting a broad range of cultural events and performances for New York State residents. Drawing inspiration from Brazilian modernism, the domed, egg-like concrete structure stands out as a striking counterpoint within an otherwise rational urban ensemble. Surrounded by state government towers set in an open plaza and clad in stone, the building's exposed concrete, its seemingly suspended form, and pronounced curved geometry position it as a late example of modernist Brutalism. The venue is currently undergoing restoration and, after six months of renovations, is set to reopen on January 8, 2026, in what has been described as a "refreshed and reimagined" space.
